Containers for different uses in different environments

ABSTRACT

Containers for different uses in different kinds of environments, comprising diffusion of volatile matters, traps for pests and protection of contained matters, consist of two half containers, or portions, of different diameter, an upper one ( 12 ) and larger in diameter, and a lower one ( 34 ) and smaller in diameter, of which the lower one ( 34 ) has an upwards oriented mouth and is to be either put on or fastened to the ground or to a support. The lower half container ( 34 ) can be provided with means ( 20 ) for fastening to the support and between the two half containers ( 12,34 ) can be inserted means ( 36,38 ) for regulating the spacing between them.

[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT/EP02/03769, filed on Mar. 29, 2002, still pending.

[0002] The present invention pertains to different kinds of containers to be employed in furniture, such as wardrobes and cupboards, cabinets for electric or electronic control boards, or the like, in closed rooms, of either homes or workshops or also open rooms, such as gardens, parks, equipped areas for outdoor activities or the like, said containers operating for maintaining on the place matters suited to be diffused in an environment or to affect in some way the environment and, specifically, the living beings present in the environment itself.

[0003] There are, since long time, many requirements needing containers either suited to contain matters to be released in an environment or expected to affect the environment itself, or in some way interact with living beings present in some environment.

[0004] Just to give some however not limiting examples, there is the need of dehumidifying closed rooms, such as cabinets containing dampness sensitive matters or equipments, as well as there is the need of introducing in closed rooms, such as cabinets and wardrobes, either perfumes or repelling matters against insects, or the like.

[0005] Likely, there is the need of using repulsive smelling matters against animals in open rooms, such as courtyards, gardens, vegetable gardens, cultivated lands areas and parks in general.

[0006] Another need arises from integrated fight systems against organisms damaging agriculture and gardening in general, providing use of both chemicals and organisms either attacking the, or antagonistic of the damaging ones. In this case, the simple spreading of chemicals could damage the environment in a hardly evaluable way, while an uncontrolled diffusion of the above mentioned organisms could be too expensive and poorly efficient.

[0007] For example, the spreading on the ground of poisoned baits to destroy either mole crickets or snails can be environmentally dangerous and poorly efficient owing to possible washings due to rain or irrigation, being the baits not protected from water.

[0008] Similarly, the spreading on the ground of either attacking or antagonistic organisms could either find bars or actually become inefficient by simple environmental conditions, such as day or night temperature and/or dampness or sunray exposition.

[0009] The above mentioned needs are met and the above mentioned drawbacks are overcome by a container according to the present invention comprising an upper portion, operating as a cap, a lower portion operating as a matter containing basin, a supporting basis connected to the lower portion and means setting the spacing between the upper and the lower portion.

[0010] Specifically, the basin lower portion is provided with a planar downwards turned surface, operating as a supporting basis.

[0011] Alternatively, the planar surface of the lower portion is pierced by a hole housing a closing plug for the hole itself.

[0012] Specifically, the plug comprises a lower knurled area and an upper neck area provided with a thread suited to be engaged in a corresponding thread in the hole through the planar surface of the lower portion.

[0013] Alternatively, the container consists of two bell jars, an upper one having larger size and a lower one having smaller size, with each other faced mouths, being the upper bell jar provided on the top with a first knurled relief and being the lower bell jar provided on the bottom with a second, also knurled, relief having fastening function.

[0014] Preferably, the means for setting the spacing between the upper and the lower portions consist of a rod upwards protruding from the lower portion and provided on the top with a thread to be engaged in a threaded hole pierced through the first relief, so that turn of the upper portion with respect to the lower portion causes a change of the spacing between them.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the lower relief is provided with a neck suited to house a resilient split ring connected to a rigid rod suited to be stuck in the soil.

[0016] Alternatively, the lower relief is forcedly inserted in a bushing built in one piece with a point suited to be stuck in the soil.

[0017] Further alternatively, the lower relief, provided with a neck, houses a resilient split ring connected to a vertical rod built in continuation of a spiral defining an abutment plane.

[0018] Also alternatively, the lower relief, provided with a neck, houses a resilient split ring connected to a cantilever bracket coming out of a planar supporting disk.

[0019] Also further alternatively, the lower relief is inserted in a hole pierced in a substantially conical relief formed in the centre of a planar supporting disk.

[0020] For the requirements of a wall fastening, the lower relief is received in a resilient band, having shape as a Ω, continued with two small brackets fastened to a wall by means of screws.

[0021] For safety reasons, in order to avoid contacts with matters housed in the lower portion, is used a ring shaped wire gauze forcedly inserted in the mouth of the lower portion of the container.

[0022] Specifically, the ring shaped wire gauze is formed by an annulus, embodied by a wire gauze, and a sleeve so sized to be forcedly inserted in the mouth of the lower portion of the container.

[0023] At last, the relief on the top of the upper portion can be crossed by a ring suitable to allow the hanging of the container to a support, such as a hook, a pin or a tree branch.

[0024] The features of the present invention will be particularly defined in the claims forming the conclusive portion of its specification. However, other features and advantages will result particularly defined by the following detailed disclosure of embodiments, provided with the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a container to be directly supported by the soil, in particular a floor;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view, looking from downwards, of a second embodiment of the invention provided with a bottom plug operating as a closing means and engaging means with fastening members;

[0027]FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of a container formed by two bell jar shaped portions and provided with means setting the spacing between the two portions;

[0028]FIG. 4 depicts the way for engaging a container of the first embodiment with a first soil fastening member,

[0029]FIG. 5 depicts how the fastening member of FIG. 4 is inserted in the soil;

[0030]FIG. 6 partially depicts a way for engaging a container of the first embodiment with a second soil fastening member,

[0031]FIG. 7 depicts how the fastening member of FIG. 6 is inserted in the soil;

[0032]FIG. 8 depicts a spring basis, provided with split resilient ring, for support on the soil;

[0033]FIG. 9 depicts a container engaged, by forced insertion, in the split ring of the spring basis of FIG. 8;

[0034]FIG. 10 depicts a flat basis, provided with split resilient ring fastened to a cantilever bracket, for support on the soil;

[0035]FIG. 11 depicts a container engaged by forced insertion in the ring of the flat basis of FIG. 10;

[0036]FIG. 12 depicts a flat basis provided with hollow relief to house the relief of a container;

[0037]FIG. 13 depicts a container engaged by forced insertion in the hollow relief of the flat basis of FIG. 12;

[0038]FIG. 14 depicts a wall fastening system consisting of a resilient Ω shaped band so sized to house, by forced insertion, a relief of the container,

[0039]FIG. 15 is an upper view of a ring shaped wire gauze, preventing intrusions, to be inserted between the two bell jars of the container;

[0040]FIG. 16 is a cross-section view of the same wire gauze depicted in FIG. 15;

[0041]FIG. 17 is a cross-section view of a container according to the invention provided with the wire gauze, preventing intrusions, depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16;

[0042]FIG. 18 is an exploded view with wire gauze, preventing intrusions, showing how a wire gauze is mounted in the container;

[0043]FIG. 19 is a partial view of a container hanging from a support by means of a ring crossing the upper relief; and

[0044]FIG. 20 is a view of the same upper relief with the ring clear from the support.

[0045] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 depicting a first embodiment of container 10, according the invention, consisting of an upper bell jar 12 and a cylindrical basis basin 14, having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the mouth of the bell jar 12. The upper bell jar 12 is provided with a knurled relief 16 operating as a knob allowing to rotate the bell jar 12 with respect to the basis basin 14. Some means, such as a rod 18, comes out of the bottom of the basin 14 and engages the inside of the bell jar 12 for determining a desired spacing between the bell jar 12 and the basin 14.

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 2, it is seen that the basin 14 is provided with a bottom plug 20 continuing in a threaded stem 22 engaged in a threaded hole 24 of the basin 14. Of course, the threaded stem 22 could have, as an integral extension, the rod 18, depicted in FIG. 1, to determine the wanted spacing between the basin 14 and the upper bell jar 12.

[0047] Referring now to FIG. 3, it is seen that a third embodiment of container 30 comprises an upper bell jar 12, having larger diameter, provided with a knurled relief 16, and a lower bell jar 34 of smaller diameter provided with a plug 20 and an inner rod 36 terminating with a threaded portion 38 to be engaged in a corresponding threaded hole 39 into the threaded relief 16.

[0048] Reference is now made to FIG. 4 showing how a container of the first embodiment is engaged with a first member 40 for fastening to the soil, consisting of a rod 42 continuing in a split resilient ring 42 to be inserted, by resilient forcing, about the neck of the relief 20, which can be a bottom plug of the basis basin 14.

[0049]FIG. 5 shows how a container 10, provided with the fastening member 40, is fastened to a soil, either natural or cultivated, through simple insertion of the rod 42 in the soil itself.

[0050]FIG. 6 shows the engagement of the first embodiment of the container with a second fastening member 50 formed by a cross-point 52 surmounted by a bushing 54 suited to receive by forced fitting, screwing or bayonet fitting, the relief 20 coming out of the lower face of the basin 14 of the container.

[0051] At last, FIG. 7 shows how the fastening member 50 is inserted in a soil through simple push thereon or on the container 10 already inserted on the fastening member.

[0052] Reference is made to FIG. 8 showing a spring basis 60 consisting of a spiral basis 62, defining a support plane, from the centre of which upwards protrudes a vertical rod 64 ending with a split resilient ring 66 intended to engage one of the lower relieves 20 of the containers 10 or 30.

[0053]FIG. 9 depicts how a container 30 of the second embodiment can be engaged by forced fitting in the split resilient ring 66 of the spring support basis 60.

[0054]FIG. 10 shows a first flat basis 70 formed by a support disk 72 from which protrudes a cantilever bracket 74 provided with a split resilient ring 76.

[0055]FIG. 11 depicts how a container 30 of the second embodiment can be engaged by forced fitting of the split resilient ring 76 in the flat basis 70.

[0056]FIG. 12 shows a second flat basis 80 formed by a support disk 82 having in the centre a substantially conical relief 84 provided with a recess 86 intended to receive by forced fitting, by screw engagement or by bayonet fitting the lower relief 20 of one of the containers 10 or 30 according to the invention.

[0057]FIG. 13 depicts how a container 30 of the second embodiment can be engaged by forced fitting in the recess of the conical relief 84 of the flat basis 80.

[0058] At last, in the FIG. 14 it is seen how a resilient band 90 having Ω shape, comprising two small brackets 92 a and 92 b, fastened to a wall by screws 94 a and 94 b and connected by a split resilient ring 96, can receive, by forced fitting, a relief 20 of a bell jar 34 of a container. As the container 10 or 30 could contain irritating, toxic or however dangerous matters to be taken apart from accidental contacts with people and specifically with children, can be useful a ring shaped wire gauze depicted in the FIGS. 15 and 16 and shown in application in the FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0059] Looking firstly at FIGS. 15 and 16, it is seen that an annular wire gauze 100 is formed by an annulus 102, embodied by a wire gauze sized for either a substantially free passage of volatile matters or to allow the access, beyond the gauze, of small animals, such as insects, snails and the like, but to prevent the passage of fingers, in particular fingers of children, and by a sleeve 104 sized to be forcedly inserted in a bell jar of the container according to the invention. Actually, as visible in the FIGS. 17 and 18, the annular wire gauze 100 is fitted with its sleeve 104 into the upper edge of the bell jar 34, so that to prevent that fingers, inserted in the gap existing between the upper bell jar 12 and the lower bell jar 34, can get in touch with the matter housed in the lower bell jar 34 itself.

[0060] At last, reference is made to FIGS. 19 and 20 depicting a change in the upper bell jar 12 consisting in piercing a cross-hole in a knurled relief 16 a to allow the introduction of a ring 110, allowing to hang a container, according to the invention, provided with a ring 110, to a support 112, such as a hook, a pin or a tree branch, which container can however rest or be fastened according to the many solutions depicted in the FIGS. 1, and 4 to 14.

[0061] The preceding disclosure, with the enclosed drawings, depicted some embodiments of the invention not to be considered anyway as limiting the scope thereof. So that all the variations and logical changes which can be devised by a person skilled in this specific art from the reading of the here above description have to be considered within the covering scope as defined by the appended claims.

[0062] For example, the upper knurled relief 16, can be of the kind of external “released crown”, such as the plugs for bottles containing aggressive or dangerous liquids, which through this provision are made difficult or impossible to be open by children, in order to make the upper portion 12 of the bell jar difficult or impossible to be unscrewed by children, to prevent their accidental access to possibly dangerous matters or living beings contained in the lower portion or bell jar 14 or 34. It is well known the this “released” crown freely rotates with respect to a inner relief, unless the crown itself is actuated by a double and concurrent movement of both pressure and rotation making an engagement of the crown with the underlying relief and the rotation thereof. 

1. Container for different uses comprising an upper portion (12) operating as a lid, a lower portion (14) operating as a containing basin of matters, a support basis connected to the lower portion (14) and means (18) for setting the spacing between the upper portion (12) and the lower portion (14), characterized in that the upper portion (12), has a larger size, and the lower portion (14), has a smaller size, and the two portions (12, 14) have each other faced mouths, the upper portion (12) is provided on the top with a first knurled relief (16) and the lower portion (14) could be provided on the bottom with a second also knurled relief (20), having gripping function.
 2. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the lower basin portion (14) is provided with a planar downwards faced surface operating as a support basis.
 3. Container for different uses, as in claim 2, characterized in that the planar surface of the lower portion (14) is crossed by a hole (24) housing a knurled relief plug (20) closing the same hole (24).
 4. Container for different uses, as in claim 3, characterized in that the the plug (20) comprises a lower knurled area and an upper neck area provided with a thread (22) suited to be engaged in a corresponding thread in the hole (24) crossing the planar surface of the lower portion (14).
 5. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the upper portion (12) is a first bell jar, and the lower portion is a bell jar (34) too.
 6. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the means (18) for setting the spacing between the upper portion (12) and the lower portion (14, 34) consist of a rod (36) upwards protruding from the lower portion (14, 34) and provided on the top with a threading (38) to be engaged in a threaded recess (39) pierced in the first relief (16) so that a rotation of the upper portion (12) with respect to the lower portion (14, 34) causes a variation in the spacing between them.
 7. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the lower relief (20) is provided with a neck able to house a split resilient ring (44) continued with a rigid rod (42) suited to be stuck in the soil.
 8. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the lower relief (20) is forcedly fit in a bushing (54), built in one piece, with a point (52) suited to be stuck in the soil.
 9. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the lower relief (20), provided with a neck, houses a split resilient ring (66) connected to a vertical rod (64) built in continuity of a spiral basis (62) defining a support plane.
 10. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the lower relief (20), provided with a neck, houses a split resilient ring (76) connected to a cantilever bracket (74) coming am of a planar support disk (72).
 11. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the lower relief (20), is fitted in a recess (86) bored in a substantially conical relief (84) fanned at the centre of a planar support disk (82).
 12. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that, for reasons of wall fastening, the lower relief (20) is received in a resilient band (96), having Ω shape, continued with two small brackets (92 a, 92 b) fastened to a wall by means of two screws.
 13. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that for reasons of safety, in order to avoid getting in touch with matters housed in the lower portion (14, 34), is used an annular wire gauze (100) forcedly inserted in the mouth of the lower portion (14, 34) of the container.
 14. Container for different uses, as in claim 13, characterized in that the annular wire gauze (100) is formed by an annulus (102), embodied by wire gauze, and by a sized and shaped sleeve (104) to be forcedly inserted in the mouth of the lower portion (14, 34) of the container.
 15. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the relief (16 a) on the top of the upper portion (12) is crossed by a ring (110) able to allow hanging of the container to a support (112), such as a hook, a pin or a tree branch.
 16. Container for different uses, as in claim 1, characterized in that the relief (16) on the top of the upper portion (12) is of the kind of external disengaged crown, in order to make impossible any accidental disconnection of the upper portion (12) by unscrewing thereof by not responsible people, such as children, the engagement between the external crown and the internal portion of the relief (16) occurring by simultaneous application of pressure and turn to the same crown. 